Wt. with preserving tanks, ration box without rations & kit for Lees & Douglas &collecting equipment = 1 Tn.14 cwy, 28 lbs.
i.e. wt of kit =4cwt 42 lbs.
Expected wt of rations = 11/2 cwt, H204 petrol=200lbs
Wt of permanent fixtures of vehicle =.

> 11th July 1959
Perth to Murchison. left Perth 0630hrs, got petrol at Geraldton and then on to Murchison. Arriving between 4.50 & 5.00. Country all the way up in beautiful condition, very open, free water lying everywhere.

28 parrots, cuckoo shrikes in fairly large numbers. Kestrels also frequently seen. Christmas trees and York gums also seen between Geraldton and Murchison. Walked along the Murchison to the East with Bernie Bowen. Crows roosting in the trees & large numbers of cuckooshrikes also roosting in Casuarina cristata, E. microtheca (Coolebah) along river with nesting hollows chipped out. E. camaldulensis (N.S.W. red gum) also there.

Shot a crow ("raven") in spotlight, brown irides, also cuckoo shrike because of kensts "and barrier".

We came up in too vehicles Bernie's Holden van and Museum Land Rover, both working well.
The team for the islands is:
Ride. leader & mammals
Hugh Tyndale Biscoe  Mammals
Bob Royce. Botany
Gerlof Mees  Birds
Athol Douglas  Reptiles
Bernie Bowen. Fisheries Dept. Observer.

Raven Corvus coronoides Wing 330 grey bases to breast feathers.

> 12th July 1959
Rose 6.00 am, very dark. Breakfast.
Gerlof and Hugh rose last, remarked that married men seemed to find it easier. Left Murchison about 9.00 having zeroed guns. Had trouble with my .22 barrel not striking properly, striker worn. As for about one hour & stopped about 67 miles N. of Murchison. Saw crows, weebills, butcher birds, redtailed black cockatoos, cuckooshrikes. Athol shot cookoo shrike. Country with York gums & acacia mixture, soon after came to belt of sandplain, great contrast, no trees. Low callitris etc..
Soon afterwards passed into dry belt proper with saltbush and other small low shrubs. This has continued all the way to moving camp about 15 m. before Carnarvon. This place (camp) has a low sandhill with acacia which is inhabited by numbers of birds & red kangaroos. Cookooshrikes plentiful. Shot white-winged truller at dusk. Also caught crimson clart roosting. Shot in brilliant scarlet like those at Fatisme in Sempt.

Earlier in day saw large numbers of red kangaroos and also a large fox in excellent conditions, loc. about 20 m. south of Carnarvon.

Searched for small mammals at night with light but no luck.
Will try to get cookooshrike in morning.

> 13 July
Arrived Carnarvon. Met Boksette (of Lands and Surveys Dept who is to take Astrofixes of headlands in Islands) and his two assistants. Also Dave Wright of "Lancelin" boat unable to sail that day. Spent time buying provisions etc. Then went out to Gascoyne, saw bee-eaters, kestrels, "bush canaries" and a grey brown thrush (?).

In evening went back to Whaling Station & saw some pictures taken in Berniers Dune by Ron Cooper (Cooper who applied for licence to oyster farm on Berniers). Cooper says that there are 3 macropods(?) and bandicoots at home on island. 2 of the macropods live in rocks down near waters edge & the other makes burrows under spinifex on plateau of island. Bandicoots also in spinifex once can be caught by walking in the spinifex.

They (the macropods) are fine and will come up to the fire at night.

He has seen no snakes but has seen a goanna "like a racehorse goanna".

Talked about whaling. The station is still doing well but they will not get their quota of 1,000 this year. The stocks have been too heavily hit in the Antarctic apparently some 1700 humps were taken down in the Antarctic by the fleet into the 4 day season. Apparently, when the station was set up it was believed that it would only have a useful life of 6 years. It has run for 10.

We suspect they can probably just keep on working on 400 per year by cutting down on everything.

Back on board at 10.30 & to bed - quick.

> 14 July
Sailed at 0630 , feeling rough with following wind. Did not take  Daminine and was sick on way over. Sea dropped when we got close to Dune.

The coast is forbidding, grey green vegetation on top & almost continuous high cliffs broken by reastruts (?) which occasionally run down to the waters' edge.

To White-beach to dump Boksette & party. Took series of shots of south end of Dune up to White beach. best shot key of H2O going ashore (8).
  (9) Castle point & cliffs to south, 100....
  (10) Quoin bluff looking south 100 56/8
  (10) Quoin bluff from opposite disaster cove
  (11) Drinks cove

Landed at cove & set up camp in a place well above the water and among dunes to give some shelter. Signs of tracks of lizards, mice & wallabies everywhere.
Went out about 6.30 & had a walk around with Hugh & Bernie. Saw about half a dozen wallabies between us, not much cover for them in olearia & spinifex and very shy in the half moon. Eventually three animals fairly close & shot one with .410 - was

Bettongia lesueur, F. with hairless pouch young F. wt 17 gm, HF23 (pouch young could squeak) Adult F. 55.5 length ; Tail 26.5 ;HF 9.6 : Ear 3.1 : Wt 1020g. [Coll. No. W.R. 18].

Hugh flushed out uterus - uncompleted blastocyst. Great excitement, first record for Potoroidae. [see W.R.27]. Skinned specimen and then to celebrate went out with net. Caught 3 Lagostrophus, 2F.F. one with large haired young and other immature with very small pouch. This was in scrub (very low) to the north of Disaster Cove. Head torch & quokka net. Discovered Leica IIIf. missing, very upset, probably in Bernie's vehicle in Carnarvon, to bed at 11.30.

The Lagostrophus mixture: F killed next day. Serum extracted by H.T.B. [Coll. No WR19] Wt 1200g. ; length 65.5 ; Tail, 30 ; HF. 10.4 ; Ear 4.7 : Skin & skull, skeleton, strath nug. preserved.
Lagostromus F with furred young [Coll. no. WR20] Germ extracted by HTB. Wt. 1600 g. ; length, 71.5 ; Tail, 33.5 ; HF, 10.85 ; Ear 4.2 : Skin & skull, skeleton & ug preserved. Pouch young in spirit. M testes removed. Wt: 530 g. ; length, 48.5 ; Tail, 23 ; HF. 9.1 ; Ear 3.6.

> 15th July
Out with Hugh & Bernie. Explored base of cliffs opposite Disaster Cove & walked south. Collected land shells and also fossil shells from the limestone. It appears to be lateritized. Shot heron, yellowish feet & soles of feet yellow, rest of legs grey and greenish grey in patches. tangled spinifex and low rushes find some of them to contain burrows. Dug out fresh one and found f Bettongia with large young in pouch.

[Coll. No WR21] Sketch of burrow: ends of burrow about 1 1/2 ft below surface, gradual slope from entrance ; Female exposed, young kept, well furred, Wt 82 g., Length 26.5, Tail 12.5, HF 6.5, Ear 1.8.

Shot several lizards? Ablepharus & Amphibolurus. Collected a Gehyra from an empty Boodie hole. .

Shot a bronze cookoo in a low bush, legs grey, iris red-brown,appears to be a F with egg low in U.S. Systems, new record for the island.

Set traps 16 Box traps & 22 Hayworth all baited with apple, aniseed used in some of the box traps.
Shot 2 Calamanthus, a beautiful clear song at sunset, run around tussocks & sit with tail cocked up like wren. Iris yellow, legs low coloured. Gleined emals  all evening, at 11.45 saw brilliant dull red sky through breaks in cloud between 240* & 140* extending almost 40* above the horizon. Lasted about 5 mins.

Caught immature Lagostromus [Coll. W.R.22]

> 16th July
Lights seen again by Bernie & HTB at 1.15 am and again Lancelin at 4.00am.

Boat arrived at 8.40 having left Carnarvon at 04.00. Very windy previous night , wondered if boat would come.

1 Bottingia caught in cane trap, m., baited with apple.[Coll. No. WR 23]
9.30. T. 73* (min.67*f) RH. 60 0/0
12-- Temp 78*f, T. at 1200 77*f, min 67*f, RH 54 0/0New Kodachrome. 2 photo of osprey's nest (1) f8 at 100 (2) f8/56 at 100.
Shot Calamanthus, legs and bill bone grey, iris yellowish.
Shot Amphibolus like skink(1) in low vegetation on sandhill.
T at 1300hrs 74*F RH 53 0/0 10
T at 1600hrs RH 70 Max 78*, min 66* T at 1600 73*
T at 1800 hrs. 70*f  RH 80 0/0

Very tired had sleep in afternoon.

Hugh, Athol & Bob taken to White Beach by Lancelin & walked back.

Hugh shot 1 Lagostromus [W.R. 24] nr Quoin Bluff, m. wt.1500, length 67, Tail 30.5, HF 9.6, Ear 2.9 Testes removed and caught a Lagostromus F. with pouch young [WR 26] near Castle Point. Wt 1950, length 74.5, tail 34.5, HF 10.8, Ear 4.7. Young F. wt 66, HF 5.2, Ear: 1.7, tail 9.3, length 20.4. This pouch young was hairless but able to squeak, sense of balance nearly well enough to stand. Blood extracted.

Walked out with Niel McLauchlan caught 1 m Bettongia* in headlight with net [WR 27]. Long chase, discovered that the animals will not keep still if two torches are on. Very noticeable yellow rump when being chased.

Set 24 rat traps - Breakbacks with bacon. Put in sack to be dealt with at  later date.  To bed.
[Coll. no. 27 cont.]

This was found to be a specimen of Lagorchestes hirsutus see p. Wt.1700 g. Total L. 66, Tail 27, Ear 4, HF 10.9. Testes removed for Shannon and Cleland, Blood preserved. Strach (?) preserved very large nematodes(?) 2" long, very large fat ticks collected.
All earlier animals referred to as Lagorchestes are actually Lagostrophus fasciatus.

> 17th July 1959
1 more Bettongia m. in cage trap. [Coll. No 28] length 59, Wt. 930 g., Tail 29.5, HF 9.9, Ear 3, Testes freed * whole specimen preserved in formalin. Felt very ill, could not see clearly and dreadful headache & feeling of lassitude. Found myself infested with ticks. Spent the day skiving and soon felt better after all ticks removed. Caught many ticks during the day. Nothing in the rat traps but the Bettongias appear to be taking the bacon.

At end of every meal interrogated Hugh, Bob & Athol on their long walk.
Hugh :
White beach.. Tracks of second side of banks of dead Posidonia washed up on beach. Impressions of noses where they had been pushed under the weed. To the north of white beach large numbers of boodie warrens. Spinifex (Triodia) association with low shrubs. Took specimens from Tank. H.T.B. says that most specimens seemed to be all brought in but there were some marinated skeletons. Certain areas of the floor were left untouched. 2 Tanks each approx. 12 'by 10' with 2' square opening at top. Biscoe then moved N.W. to opposite coast & then moved north. Thick scrub about 2 chains in from coast Acacia & Diplolaena. Crossed the Island over high sand dunes to a point about midway between Castle Point & Peaked Cliff. Hibiscus in centre is about 7ft high. Lipfert's estimate of 1 1/2 mph at this point could be measurable. Between Peaked Cliff & Quoin Bluff there are a large number of small valleys with dense scrub. there appear to be quite large numbers of Bettongia & Lagostrophus. At Q Bluff he also saw the small macropod which runs and not hops. One was also seen opposite Castle Point, probably the Lagerstrophus [see footnote to WR27] at Quoin Bluff in one of the valleys (south of id) saw small mouse [actually Perameles].Seemed to be large for mouse (seen in light of truck) looked like a Sminthopsis (with eyes seemed large) very bunched up. Colour seemed pale compared with other animals seen, no real idea whether the animal was shorthaired or rough coated. Seemed to run down and burrow under a bush.

From Quoin Bluff walked back along E. coast, quite a lot of animals heard.
Generally macropods seemed to be confined to the edges of the island, droppings seemed scarce in the centre. [ Note: Hugh wore sandshoes & probably avoided most of the thick areas].

Bob Bryce:
Moved up the central shrub area touching the W. Coast slightly to the N. of Castle Point. Then moved back into Aencia near Peaked Cliff. Back to the Centre again moving along the western ridges again. Mammals seemed to be densest in the lower type of vegetation not tree type i.e. in bushes where branches are right down to the ground, rarely associated with thickets o hibiscus or pittosporum but in acacia and diplolaena (native rose), eucalypts and leptosperm. Saw more than 15 altyeten.

Athol
Moved up centre & across to a point roughly opposite Castle Point. Saw no animals until opposite crater point.(Royce also found this) All seemed to be Logostrophus , on each occasion (except one time) single animals only were started. (Royce also found this). Animals always started out of mixed spinifex or even out of big spinifex. Animals invariably dodge twisting and turning among spinifex clumps. Headed towards Low Point but before reaching W. coast turned back and reached E. coast probably slightly north of Peaked Cliff, moved along the coast to Disaster Cove.

Goats
No sign seen by anyone H.T.B. & no pads along west coast but no sign of goats
Dogs and foxes
No sign . Some small macropods leave a pseuds.nose by double imprinting
Dead macropods.
Bob saw two not collected
Athol: 6 animals collected
H.T.B. I give note of white beach.
Douglas made a 200 square i.e. 800 walk put up 2 animals only in that distance, made in a most favorable area.

Went out with HTB & Bernie. Spotlight shot Perameles bouganvillei in low scrub (m.) blown out sand dunes N of Disaster Bay. After Hugh had seen it he says scale of dent(?) mouse of day before was Perameles. Bowen too also see some before at North End. [Coll. no. 29] Wt 220g. Body & Tail 29.7 cms. Tail 9, Ear 3.2, HF4.8. Testes removed & fixed for Sherman & Cleland. Took 6 photographs of bandicoot (1 fisheries, 1 Hugh, 2 Ride, 2 Douglas)
Saw a small bat at "Tunnel" north of Disaster Bay, appeared to be E. paulia.
Hugh caught Lagostrophyus with handnet.[Coll. No 30] (tagged Zool.1414m adult. Wt 1600, Tail 30, Ear 5, HF10.6 ( kept alive for Zool. Dept.)

> 18 July
Went around traps. Seagull killed by Breakback baited with bacon. Mus albocinerius caught in Hayworth baited with apple. 2nd night of setting. [Coll. No 31]f  apparently gravid Teats 2+2. Length 157 [very tip of tail appear to be white] Tail 7.5 Weight: 30 g., HF: 2.15, Ear: 155.
Trap was set on W side of island opposite Disaster Bay near the small undrout cliff with the Boodie Holes. The species does not appear to be common.

Chlorofied. The eyes went pearly grey about 1/2 hour after death. Hugh took photos for H.T.B., S. Baker, Fisheries Dept, and self.

Found to contain 5 large young 3 left, 2 right, CR lengths 21, 20, 19, 21, 19. Took photos of raised reef for Guest. Re-examined the cliffs on west side opposite Disaster Cove.

The large Bothuenkymus(?)-like fossil shells in them seem to occur with a breccia of stones in filled solution pipes (Photo), though some of these must have been of remarkable extent.
Dug out further Boodie holes under spinifex [sketch]. Lifted Hayworths and rat traps. Bettongia caught in cage trap in morning [Coll WR 32]m., Wt 1100, Length ?, Tail 27, HF 10.1, Ear 2.6, released.

Shot [Lagorchestes] m. Extracted testes [Coll W.R. 33] Shot 1830. Preserved in formalin before measurements taken.

Returned to camp and discovered that the so-called Bettongia 27 is actually Lagorchestes hirsutus and that all the others to date are actually Lagostrophus fasciatus. Hugh discovered this as he marked it with an entry for release. He and I decided that we had sufficient Bettongia and would release the captives after marking. He was doing this while I was away from camp. The field characters of the species may be summarised:

Bettongia: Very short ears, rounded ears generally pale brown all over, backs well developed with strong white front claws, tail with white hairs which may be very sparse but which form a crest on the dorsal surface of the tail, soles of feet white.
Lagostrophus fasciatus

When seen looks dark. Ears fairly long and kangaroo-like. Hair in the upper surfaces of the hind feet a beautiful golden brown, front claws and soles of feet black. Tail with a dark terminal crest of dorsal hairs. Banding may be well marked especially in young animals but not necessarily well marked in old animals.
Lagorchestes hirsutus

Pale brown in field very much like a boodie but with long ears like a banded hare-wallaby not short or rounded. hands not large & claws are black & soles of feet dark. The tail is only thinly coated with hair, there is a very faint crest of white hair on the underside of the tip.

The most conspicuous field mark at night is the very pale area around the cloak which is framed in orange pantaloons. This orange hair is much longer than any other hairs elsewhere on the body.
Tail complete. Compared with male taken earlier. Colours are identical.U.g system removed for sectioning for blastomyst. Corpus intern large. 2 young preserved in brine, F preserved in formalin.
Went out with Bernie & caught F Pemales [Coll No WR 34] about 20.00 west of the only main range of the island opposite the Boodie Warren also saw another.. Seems that these occur in the spinifex country and low scrub with Hibiscus & Frankenia along the edge of the sandhills.

Length 31, Tail 9.3, Weight 230 g.,HF 4.9, Ear 3.5. When caught in spotlight she ran frantically in all directions and was caught by me in my hand. She sprang up to 1 1/2 ft high, pouch opened backwards, 2, eyes shut, hairless.

Also caught F Bettongia with young, 6 very small, not furred [Coll.WR 35]

> 19th July
Took Lancelin to beach south of Quoin Bluff & landed in a clime. Spinifex (Triodi), association right down to the sea. In Quoins small thickets in the northern slopes & in the bottoms. On top there is a continuation of the major spinifex plain which runs up to the north end of the major spinifex plain to the north end of the Island.

Bob, Bernie and self landed. Bob says spinifex plain continues down to White Beach & up to the major midrib of the Island where the real thickets occur. Changed film (3) and took (1) Spinifex plain looking south (2) Lancelin at bottom of dune. (3) Mostly reached thicket of  native rose at west side of chie(?), may runs in the spinifex which is quite high. Collected depps(/) and photographed (4) and (5) (one for Athol).

Shot Calathamnus singing on top of low bush among spinifex 12.10 hrs:
Bill dark brown, legs brown, eyes yellowish. Bernie collected Rhagadda and Bothuenque (?).
Shot singing honeyeater in thicket in Quoin. Honeyeater singing , bill dark brown, legs brown, soles of feet whitish, Iris sepia inside of mouth & corners of mouth yellow. 

Turned over flat exfoliated stones which cover the 10 or so acres of Quoin Bluff expected to find large numbers of lizards but not a single one. This is the only area of flags that I have seen on the island. Royce says that there are other areas in the other major points such as [Low&] point on the other side of the island and down at White Beach. Royce suggested that he has only seen lizards in sand here. Can it be that this [cromint?] did not exist at the time of separation. There were living Bothriembryon & Rhaggada under the stones.

Found small holes in cliff answering to the approx size of mouse holes, there had some droppings of mice around them and many tracks. They were all in sand and in areas clear  of vegetation, many were false ends only a few inches long but conformed to a standard pattern. We measured and followed out with care: sketch of tracks and escape pattern : [Sketch]
 
In coming crossed Island from Quoins Bluff to West Coast & back cujin(?). Very tough going took us 2 3/4 hours., left at 20.00 hrs arrived W. Coast 21.20, left W. Coast arrived Quoin Bluff 22.50. Saw a single Bettong in spinifex plain spinifex then becomes mixed with belts of a small 3ft high Eucalypt, Acacia with fairly thick but low vegetation in the valleys, saw L. fasciatis here. The last few valleys are very difficult to walk through filled with olearia sbout 2ft 6in. high.
All valleys had numerous tracks in the sand but very bright full moon made it impossible to see animals. On way back noticed that the eucalyptus belts were much chillier and "cold damper" than the contrary on either side. Possibly the reason why the eucalypts have survived.
Interested to note that each valley had different vegetation from those to east & west. Royce says that this is quite common.

In Cline to S. of Quoin saw Lagostrophus and also a light coloured wallaby which was probably Lagorchestes. This record is extremely doubtful because, although the animal had a pale rump, it disappeared suddenly and probably went down a hole. i.e. could be Bettongia.

> 20 July [next page added later]
The cliffs opposite Disaster Cove appear to be made up of a limestone "country rock" which at some time has become fissured. These fissures contain small concretinary pebbles, pebbles of country rock and shells (?) (Bothriembryon). In addition, there are rounded boulders lying about the island of a very calcareous gritstone. Before packing up camp went to W. side & collected samples of (a) the country rock of the cliffs
(b) the Both. country breccia finfissures (?)
(c) grit boulders, water rounded.

Packed up camp on Dorre and left at 11.00hrs sea flat calm & very pleasant. Disaster Cove dead flat with a very gentle swell washing ashore. Noticed that the bottom is ripple marked for the first time since we have been here. Markings appear to go down 2-3 fathoms.

Hugh tried a new census method last night. He swept tracks in the sand and recorded all crossings. The tracks stretched right across the island from Disaster Cove. The North one was 126 paces long. The southern one was 74 paces long. The lines did not go down to the sea  but stretched from the cliffs on the west to the ones on the  east, down from 1800 - 7.30 hrs.
Results:
1) Northern:  2 Pembles, 25 macropods, 1 bobtail, 1 omens
2) Southern: 3 Pembles, 8 macropods, 9 mice.
Photographed gap and then whales - coent in to Shag rocks N. of Red Cliff
Point. Saw L. novahollandae, Sterna bergii, P. varius, & 2 Larus pacifices swimming in water. Photographed shags.
Put film[3] in other camera and photographed blowout N. of Red Cliff pt (1) and stretch of coast N. near to it (2). Photographed Hospital landing (3)
Landed and set up camp. Went out & Athol shot 2 goats from a herd of 7. All were adults, 2 shot were males, both had very large heads and were old and mangy.
Went out to the area of dea major diginal blowout N of Hospital Anchorage, walking & releasing Bettongia & Lagostrophus fasciatus.
Saw 1. L. fasciatus, not marked
2. Bettongia lesueri marked 1415
3. B. lesueri not marked
4 & 5 , 6 & 7 unidentified
8.L. fasciatus (chased into sea) not marked.
9 L. fasciatus on edge of sandhills (near) south of study area.
Saw L. hirsutus on edge of sandhills, near South of the study area. Field  characters were quite clear. White rump is only visible when the animal moves. Went out onto Wedge Point and collected 2 L. fasciatus, 1 young male* for captive to Zool. Dept. & 1 adult male [Coll WR36], removed testes for G.B.S. & Cleland. wt 1800, length 70.5, Tail 35, Ear 4.8, HF10.5.
Decided to kill this * for study skin & skeleton. Beures [WR 61], Zool. no. [1416]. Wt. 1000, Length 59.5, T. 26, HF 10.5, E. 5.

> 21st July 1959
After breakfast walked over to the Hospital valley & moved up the west of the area selected by Hugh as the study area. Collected lizards with Athol in the ruins of old hospital. Usual bottles lying about. Clay pipes of the Aboriginal patients and an old waggon under a bush. A very promising area for lizards.

Moved up the valley to the north and then swing north west to the opposite coast. Vert thick vegetation, mostly dense Olearia with Acacia thicket about 3-4 feet high. Saw signs of Bettong activity wherever the scrub was a bit thin and red sand predominant. Saw 1 L. fasciatus and 1 Bettong, heard several other animals also. Picked up skulls en route.

Reached W. coast about 12.20 hrs & explored 2 large caves in the sea cliffs. Signs of goats everywhere and head of a very old animal in the rocks. No bats in caves.

On the way back passed through the first patch of triodin seen on the island - a great contrast to Dorre. Picked up two bobtails, came back through hospital ruins moving approx S.E. all the way, arrived back 14.15 hrs.

Gerlof drove a great wooden spike into the sole of his foot. Hugh and I tried to remove it but without success. Athol returned and got the spike out with great difficulty. Gerlof very brave throughout.

Athol has shot 5 goats today & I shot one that he was driving in front of him, mine was an old male. Athol got 1 old male, 1 young male,and 3 females. Females all pregnant, the young animals are all in excellent condition. Athol saw about 11 1/2 to 3/4 grown kids in the day's walk.
Went out with Hugh and Bernie to study area. Nothing caught. Saw some 3 or 4 Lagostrophus. Very windy and bright moon. No animals caught.

Tried a clay net, no success, Crumbs could not be bolted.

Hugh and Bernie have set snares & swept tinch (?) right around the 5 or so acres of the study area.

> 22nd July 1959
Gerlof still very much feeling the effects of his foot. As soon as "Lancelin" comes in he will go back to Carnarvon for treatment. Bernie will go with him. Probable that he will have to stay in Carnarvon for rest of the week.

Spent morning with Gerlof waiting. I skinned male L. fasciatus(36) and made skeleton. Midday Temp. readings: Max 75* min. 65* T at 1200 75*%RH 55*%.

PM Shot 2 Billy goats 1/2 mile from camp, 1 white & 1 brown. These were probably survivors of the herd of seven that we have been shooting for the last few days. Athol got pouch foetus of Perameles [WR37] discarded by F when she ran away from him. F young. CR length 5.2, T 3.05, HF 2.0, Wt. 11 g., E.1.1 all measurements taken from animal fixed 2 hrs previously. Photographed 2 bobtails on film 3 (4)(5).

Went out and set Hayworths and rat traps on sandhills to south of camp. Shot two L. fasciatus these were both thought to be hirsutus because of their brown colour but when handled were obviously fascinatus. The young male collected on 20 July at Wedge Point were also this curious golden brown colour. Both Hugh and I are agreed that we saw nothing like it on Dorre, almost certainly a new subspecies.

F [WR38] with 2 f pouch young. Eyes were open, squeaking, sense of balance developed but unable to stand. maternal Wt. 2100, Length 75, T.34.5, HF 11.3, Ear 47. Joey. Wt.63 g., Length 23.5, HF5.2, Ear 1.5. Appeared not to have a blastocyst.
M [WR 39] Wt. 2100, Length 79 cm., Tail 34.5 cm, HF 10.9, Ear 5.1.
23 July 1959

Caught few m. L. fasciatus in cage trap in study area, marked and released No. 1417. Wt. 1050 g., Length 54.5, HF 10, Ear 4.7, Tail 26. Good condition. Colour is nose stripe (?) greyish but flanks with reddish brown tinge. When released and ran off it looked very brown.
[Sketch of burrow] Dugout & burrow on hill W of hospital valley. H and I worked for 4 hours & H caught a mouse at the end.

Next page: Plan of mouse hole.

Found midden at hospital site which contained buried in channel bones of small macropods. They were in quite good condition. Does this mean that macropod bones are still quite good on the surface after 50 years.

Best material in nest included the Broad-leafed Euphorbiacea (exeacaria). Nearest bush was 20* away.

Mus albocinereus [WR40] m. HF1.9, E 1.55, T 8.9, Length 16.4, Wt 15 g.
Set 10 rat traps & rest of hayworths (?) baited with toast. Went out in evening. Moon did not rise until 9.30. It was dark & very warm. There did not appear to be any more animals around but they were very easy to approach. Collected 2 L. fasciatus [WR44, 45], m. m., 1 Bettong[WR46] m
Perameles [WR42] F. and [WR43] Thetomys praeconis.

All collected on Wedge Point with handnet. Also went down to the blowout between Wedge Point and the study area where bats were hunting in the still humid air. Shot 2. They were Nyctophilus geoffroyi.

N. geoffroyi F.[WR 41 A] E 21, Forearm 39, Total length 87, Tail 29, HF 6.5 mm., Wt.11g. In formalin. Uniform furnish brown above, dark bases to hairs. Below, whitish tips to hairs with dark bases, general effect greyish. Left wing broken.

N. geoffroyi m. [WR 41 B] Total length 88, Tail 4.3, HF 4.5, E 21, Forearm 35, Wt. 7 g. Same colour as the f. but the dorsal surface and the base of the ears is more greying. This is scarcely noticeable in the F. Thetomys praeconis [WR 43] f. This little mouse was caught in my hand after having been cornered in an acanthocarpus & spinifex bush. It did not attempt to bite when caught. It made no noise. Wt 40 g., length 210, Tail 115, HF 26.5, ear 19 g. Photographed in reel (3)[ see next page]

Perameles bouganville F. [WR42] Wt.250,length (H & Tail lost), HF 5, . hind feet not developed, probably very close to newborn. 2 v. small joeys C.R, 12.5 mm.Compared skin with test of Dorre specimens skin. No real difference in colour. Preserved in spirit. Other two teats elongated & suspect that the first litter had been lost.
Next page: Thetomys praeconis [WR 43] cont.
Length of hair of middle of back 12.7 mm.
Length of hair of mid belly 7 mm.  [Sketches]
 
Colour: hair on dorsal surface grey for basal 8.5 then brown with black tips especially on crown of head. Belly except in mid ventral line white-tipped hairs with grey basal parts. General appearance white, mid ventral esp. in stomach(?) area hairs white to roots. Underges(?) (cheeks) and along flanks in transition area between white and brown tipped hairs the hairs are tipped odaceous (almost orange).

Tail is darker above than below but this is not obvious at first glance. Most obvious in distal portion where dorsal hairs are distinctly sepia while ventral areas are white. [Sketch]: teats, dorsal surface of snout, brownish grey. tick collected off ear.
Lagostrophus fasciatus m. very brown, Wt.1550 length. 69, Tail 3,5, HF 10.7 Ear 4.75. Testes removed, skin and skull, wt. tests 45, photographed reel 3.
Lagostrophus fasciatus m. [Coll. WR 45] wt 1600 Length 66 Tail. 32 HF 10.5 Ear 4.8 , photographed alive Reel 3 Bettongia lesueur m. [Coll WR46] Wt.1100 length.56 Tail 25 HF 10.2. Ear. 3. Body preserved entire in formalin. Photographed dead Reel 3.
[The animals above were photographed in reverse order].

> 24th July 1959
Got up early expecting to take "Lancelin" to Red Cliff Point but blowing very hard from North East & Lancelin has had to just put to sea.

Went out to check the traps find 2 Mus albocinereus  in Hayworth, 1 mus albocinereus in Breakback & 1 Perameles F with pouched young in Breakback. It appears that Athol's statement that "Toast has been proved in these contents " is accurate !
Caught a very small & somewhat wide Amphibolus (Adelaidensis) in the sandhills, nearly white, was in a clump of spinifex in an area predominently Olearia. Ver sluggish in the loose sand and strong wind.

Started to rain. Rained very hard indeed all afternoon and evening. Took opportunity to skin and put collection in order.
Perameles bougainville F. [WR 47] 1 pouch young m. hairless eyes open not squeaking balance not developed. Wt 17 g. Total length 12.05, Tail 4.05, E 1.4, hf 2.7. Mother: Wt. 250, L. 30, T 9.7, E 3.55, HF 4.9. Caught in sandhills in Breakback net in trap baited with toast. Vegetation Spinifex longiflora and Olearia axillaris. 4 teats, 1 long teat only ... presumably litter early U.S system not enlarged. Skin and skull, body preserved in formalin & young preserved.
Mus albocinereus
[WR 48a] F. caught in Hayworth baited with toast, vegetation etc. same as above. Wt 15 g., L 16.5, T. 9.6, E. 1.5, HG 2.1. 4 teats abdominal not pregnant, uterus very thin, animal in poor condition. preserved entire. Some hairs in stomach region white to roots.
[WR 48b] F caught in Hayworth etc. Wt. 17, L. 15.7, T. 8.4, E. 1.5, HF 2, 4 teats, 4 entire(?) foetuses, 2 left, 2 right, CR lengths in utero.
Preserved entire Animal in good condition.
[WR 48c] M. caught in Breakback as above, badly broken. Wt ?, L. ?, HF 2.2, E. 1.6. Skin and skull only.

Still raining late at night. Got to bed in a lull and was quite comfortable - in fact first early night for weeks! Nice to have all the pick up skulls straight.

Lessons to be learned from sleeping in the rain. First of all, the Safari cot is so low to the end that the "damp strikes through". Secondly, as a result by moving the underside of the bag is a swamp(?). It is not enough to cover & keep the rain off with a ground sheet. Another groundsheet must be provided for below.

>  25th July
A gusty but fine morning. The bedding dried quite happily. The cond has moved right round the clock. We must have been in the middle of a cyclone. Went out with Hugh to pick up all traps to the north. Nothing in them at all. Shot a Lagostrophus. Appears to have recently lost a joey. Removed U.G. for secting. She is a very brown animal. Shot in acacia thicket [Coll. WR49] Wt. 1600 length. 67.5 T. 32 HF 10.1 Ear 4.9.

Moved us up to the Hospital on ridge. Got a pair of bobtails. At Hospital itself about 1/3 mile from the sea found one of the yellow shore crabs. These appear to be all through the Olearia scrub between the sea and the Hospital ridge. I have not seen them inland before the heavy rain came last night.

Athol had shot 3 Lagostrophus m, m, m. 1 grey [Coll. WR50] Study skin & skull shot. AMD's no AV.
Wt. 1700, Length 68, T. 34.5, HF 10.4, E.4.7.
1 brown [Coll. WR51] m. shot AMD study skin and skull. AMD no.
Wt 1900, Length 69, T 34.5, HF 10.6, E 4.8.
1 brown [Coll. WR52] m shot AMD. Cleared sands 200 yds from beach 1/2 m. S. of Hospital. Wt 2050, Length 70, T33, HF 10.7, E. 4.9.

Walked out to the south with Hugh looking for Lagorchestes which we had not yet obtained from Bernier. No signs at all. Plenty of Lagerstrophus and birds. Saw Singing honeyeater, Sericornis, and Wrens and Swallows as well as the seabirds. Pied oystercatcher, Silver gull and Pacific gull.
In the evening went out with Hugh & Bernie netting with handnet, headlamps and spotlights, a very black night with a high wind from the SouthEast. Walked along the dunes to Wedge Pt.. Caught 2 male Lagorstrophus (both released). 3 F. Lagorstrophus with joeys. One of them dropped her joey which was large & furred but Hugh saw it in the spinifex and picked it up. Also caught 1 m. Perameles. Saw another in a bush with a Lagorstrophus but it got away, 2 Bettongs, 1 m, 1 f. with joey. 2 mus albocinereus. A very successful night. Got back to camp after having fright against a howling gale at 10.30.

Absence of a moon makes a great difference. Possibly, when the spot is played on them they lose their dark adaption and become quite helpless. This is not noticeable in bandicoots. The bandicoot was caught in my hand also one of the mice. No sound from either and no attempt to bite. Bernie caught one of the mice & it squeaked.

Mus albocinereus m. [WR 53]. Caught by hand at night in sand dunes of Wedge Point. Vegetation Spinifex longifolia & Olearia axillaris. Caught W.D.L.R., testes not descended. L.15.2, T 8.5, HF 2, E 1.45, Wf 11.5.
Mus albocinereus m. [WR 54] Caught by hand at night in sand dunes s. of Wedge Point. Vegetation as above. Caught by B. K. Brown. Testes descended. L. 18, T 9.8, HF2.1, E 1.6, Wt 14 g. Spirit Spec. Photographed reel (5)
Perameles bouganville m. [WR55] Caught by hand at night in sanddunes with Olearia, Acacia, Solanum, Spinifex, Diplolaena, Rhagodia.
[Coll. W.D.L.R.] Photographed reel (5). Wt. 200, L. 32.5, T. 9.2, E. 3.7, HF 4.9.  2 of the Lagostrophus were earmarked for Zool. Dept.
[Zool.1419] F with formed young [1418] Brown animal kept alive.
Wt. 1500, L. 69, T.32.5, HF10, E 4.5, joey f. W.170, L. 36.5, T 18, HF8.2, e. 2.9. 3rd incisor just breaking gum. Fully formed hopping clumsily. Kept alive.
[WR 56] F wt 1300, L. 65.5, T. 25.8, HF 9.4, E 4.2, taken to Perth for display. No blistock(?). Young dead in pouch F Wt 20 g., L. 15, T.6.6, HF 2.5, E. >8. Not furred , young preserved.[1420. Zool.] F with large but not fully furred young. Kept for Zool. Dept.
Bettongia lesueur F [1423]
Bettongia lesueur F [Zool.1424]

> 26th July
Still blowing Lancelin has put out to sea so no hope of getting off today. Very short of water. Lancelin has probably gone back to Carnarvon to pick up McLaughlin. Hope she will be able to get back tonight or tomorrow.

Spent morning photographing on Reel (5) the joey with F 1418-9, Mus albocinereus [WR54] and the Pemeles [WR55]. Used a complete film but should have some excellent shots. Doped the two latter with Ether first and it worked excellently. Went out in afternoon & looked for L. hirsuitus, no luck. In evening went out along the sand dunes with Hugh & Bernie. Also collected a curious prawn from the claws of one of the yellow land crabs on the beach. Preserved [but rather mangled] in formalin. It was just alive when collected.

Collected numerous L. fasciatus all brown variety. Released most of them, kept m [059] and F[1421], young f.[1422], 1 specimen m. Perameles, L Juvenile Bettong[WR58] and Lagorchestes hirsutus [WR57]
[Gave [WR61] to the little m collected in Bernier on 20th July 1959]
[WR57] F with joey. Excellent condition, a curious squeaking noise when caught. Wt 1450, Length 645, Tail 270, HF108, E 47. Joey is not postiner teat. CR length 2.3, Rt anterior teat also long. has she already lost one?
[WR58] Bettongia lesueur F young animal Wt880, L. 590, T.28.5, HF102.5, E 31 minute joey. CR length 1.4. When examined at capture approx 210 hrs pouch was empty, when examined on 27th at 10.00 hrs young present.

> 27 July 1959
Woke at dawn to find Lancelin coming over the horizon.
Photographed Lagorchestes and started new film.
While camp was packed up and staff loaded Hugh and I killed animals from previous night & weighed & measured. Got them into fridge on Lancelin. Extracted U.G. from WR56, WR57 & WR58.
56 a fasciatus has no blastocyst.
57 a hirsutus may have a blastocyst. 2 large corpora untea.
58 The Bettong, fixed U.G. entire & hope that sections will show birth passage.[WR59] m Adult L. fasciatus. Wt 2050, L.73.5, T. 34.5, HF 11.05, E 5.15. Taken back frozen for display purposes.
[WR60] M adult Perameles bouganvillei Wt125 g., L28, T.8.45, HF 5.1, E.5.15
Left Bernier at 11.30 and had a gough trip over. Slept like a log the whole way and arrived in Carnarvon about 3.30. Arranged the deep freezing of the animals with Ron and finally got away from Carnarvon at 7 pm.

> 28th July 1959
Moved off at 7am after a very cold night. Arrived Geraldton at 9.30 and had breakfast and went with Bob to see his brother. Dr R.G.Royce 94 Sandford St. Geraldton.

He told me about a letter from Mrs. E.G. Pumble (?) of Nov. 1958 telling him about a specimen  which was sent to the museum for identification Sept 1958. "received a reply "after a lengthy period". Short note in reply to 2 page letter. Identified as Missulena occatoria Walck.Get more information about this to Dr Royce.
Arrived back in Perth after an uneventful journey at 1900 hrs.
 
 
Expedition to Bernier & Dorre, July 1959 : Collecting numbers WR186 - 601.
Perth to Murchison 11th July 1959 - Carnarvon 13 July - Disaster Cove 14 July - White Beach, Quoin Bluff, Low Point, Peaked Cliff 17th July - Quoin Bluff

> 19th July - Red Cliff Point, Wedge Point, 20th July -west coast 21, 22  July, - sketch of  -hole, collected specimens' numbered from WR collection - 24 July bad weather, unable to sail to Red Cliff Point 25th July still too windy for "Lancelin" but they were able to leave Bernier Island

> 26 July - arrived back in Perth 28 July 1959.